Elgin Area Historical Society facts for kids
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"Old Main", home of the Elgin Historical Society
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| Established | 1987 |
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| Location | 360 Park Street Elgin, Illinois |
| Type | Local history |
The Elgin History Museum is a cool place to learn about the past of Elgin, Illinois. It's run by the Elgin Area Historical Society, a group that works to save and share local history. You can find the museum at 360 Park Street in Elgin. It's inside a historic building called "Old Main," which is part of the Elgin Academy campus. Besides the museum, "Old Main" also has offices, research rooms, and a gift shop.
Contents
How the Museum Started
The Elgin Area Historical Society began in 1961. It was started by local writers and historians. For many years, the Society didn't have its own building. They kept historical items, called artifacts, in people's homes. Some items were also stored in the basement of Elgin’s Gail Borden Public Library District.
The Historic "Old Main" Building
A School Becomes a Museum
The Society moved into its current home, "Old Main," in 1987. This building first opened on December 1, 1856. It was a private school called the Elgin Academy. "Old Main" is known for its special Greek Revival style. It was the first building in Elgin to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site.
Challenges and Restoration
In 1911, lightning caused a fire that damaged "Old Main's" roof. The roof was replaced, but it lost its unique gabled roof and cupola. The Elgin Academy used the building until 1969. Then, money problems and new safety rules led them to leave it.
The Academy offered "Old Main" to the City of Elgin. In 1976, the city decided to save the building. This was part of a special project for the country's 200th birthday. A local business owner, John Spiess, started a "Buck-a-Brick" fundraiser. People bought 150,000 bricks to help raise money. These bricks were used in Fountain Square Plaza Mall.
The fundraiser worked, and Elgin took ownership of the building. Even after another fire in 1978, the outside of the building was fixed up in 1979-1980. In 1981, the City of Elgin rented "Old Main" to the Historical Society.
Making it a Museum Home
The Society raised more money from different sources. Many volunteers also helped out. Groups like Elgin’s Golden K Kiwanis Club and Gifford Park Association spent many hours working. They helped fix up the inside of "Old Main" for museum use. The Society moved into the first floor in 1987. By 1991, they were using all three floors of the building.
The Reber Research Library
Discovering Elgin's Past
The Society has a special place called the Reber Research Library. It's named after Clarence Reber. He was a former president who loved collecting and organizing historical items for the Society. The Library has collections that cover all of Elgin's history.
What You Can Find There
- Old photographs of Elgin from Elmer Gyllek's collection.
- Thousands of photo negatives from the Elgin Courier News newspaper.
- Local records about wills and divorces.
- Lots of information for researching Elgin homes.
- Production records for most Elgin National Watch Company watches made before the 1950s.
- The Library also offers help if you want to find information about specific watches.
Museum Exhibits
Exploring Elgin's Story
The Society has a small team and many volunteers. They keep up the Elgin history museum on two floors of "Old Main." The museum gives a general look at Elgin's history. It also has bigger displays on important community events.
Special Displays to See
- The local watch industry, showing how watches were made in Elgin.
- The Elgin Road Races, which were exciting car races.
- The Song of Hiawatha Pageant, a local show based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This show entertained people in Elgin for over 50 years!
The Society has also worked with sponsors to create traveling exhibits. These include "Deep Roots, Green City: City Planning in Elgin" and "The Jewish Experience in Elgin: Stories of Immigration, Identity, and Assimilation."
Activities and Education
Learning and Fun for All Ages
The Society offers tours of the museum and holds meetings. They also have "brown bag" lunches where people give talks about historical topics. The Society especially focuses on helping school children and teachers learn about history.
Programs for Students and Teachers
The Society has partnered with Elgin Area School District U46. They work together on projects like the American History Partnership. This helps teachers learn more about American history and social studies. The Society also has educational programs for kids. These include:
- A summer history camp.
- History-themed scavenger hunts.
- Chances to learn about Elgin's watch-making past and its amazing buildings.
Cemetery Walk
Bringing History to Life
Every autumn since 1988, the Society has held a special walk. It takes place in Elgin’s historic Bluff City Cemetery. During the Cemetery Walk, actors dress up in costumes. They pretend to be people who are buried in the cemetery. They share stories about the lives and personalities of these past residents. The walk also includes other displays about old cemetery customs, styles, and ceremonies.
